Sarawak’s palm oil industry generated RM16.5 billion in export revenue last year, accounting for 12 per cent of the state’s total export value and remaining one of the major contributors to the agriculture sector’s growth.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the industry had also expanded significantly in terms of land development, covering approximately 1.7 million hectares statewide.
“The agriculture sector has continued to demonstrate strong and positive performance, positioning itself as one of the main contributors to Sarawak’s economic growth and rural transformation under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP),” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today (May 19).
Dr Rundi said the agriculture sector contributed an average of RM14.8 billion to Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2021 and 2024, accounting for 10.5 per cent of the overall state economy.
He added that agriculture export value had increased steadily from RM14 billion in 2020 to RM20 billion in 2024, while the sector recorded a trade surplus of RM16 billion last year.
On the pepper industry, Dr Rundi said Sarawak remained the country’s largest producer, contributing about 98 per cent of Malaysia’s total pepper production.
He said the state’s pepper industry was estimated to contribute approximately RM2 billion annually, equivalent to between 1.3 and 1.5 per cent of Sarawak’s GDP.
“Sarawak pepper production amounted to 30,613 metric tonnes with an export value of RM159 million,” he said.
Dr Rundi also revealed that 36 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sarawak were successfully developed this year through the Malaysian Pepper Board’s entrepreneurship and SME development programme.
The initiative generated approximately RM34.5 million in sales, comprising RM7.1 million from the domestic market and RM27.4 million from exports.
Meanwhile, the livestock sector recorded strong growth in live swine exports, which rose to 124,871 heads valued at RM197.42 million this year compared to 56,050 heads worth RM56.27 million in 2020.
“This represents an increase of about 123 per cent over the five-year period,” he said.
